National baseline
Start with NBC Part 3 for Group B occupancy classifications, construction requirements, fire safety, and egress provisions.
Canada · Occupant load
What are the building code requirements for care and treatment occupancies in Canada?
Care and treatment occupancies (Group B) have specialized requirements for fire safety, egress, patient movement, barrier-free access, and construction type because occupants may not be able to evacuate without assistance. The exact requirements depend on the division, building size, and provincial adoption.
Group B occupancies cover hospitals, nursing homes, detention facilities, and other buildings where occupants need assistance to evacuate. These occupancies face stricter requirements than most building types because the defend-in-place strategy relies on fire compartmentation, sprinklering, and staff-assisted movement rather than full building evacuation. Confirm the division first, then verify how the province applies the NBC provisions.
What to check first
- Group B is divided into divisions based on occupant mobility and restraint — hospitals, nursing homes, and detention facilities have different requirements.
- Defend-in-place strategies require fire compartmentation, sprinklering, and horizontal exit provisions that differ from other occupancies.
- Barrier-free access, patient movement paths, and smoke control requirements are more extensive than for most building types.
Jurisdiction notes
Division classification
Confirm the exact Group B division — care vs. treatment vs. detention — because each has different fire separation, egress, and construction requirements.
Provincial and authority requirements
Many provinces and health authorities impose additional requirements for healthcare facilities that go beyond the building code baseline.
Not professional advice
CodeCan reports what the published building code says. It is not legal, engineering, or architectural advice, and it does not certify compliance. Building codes are adopted and amended provincially and enforced locally — always verify with your authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) before you build.
Work through it in this order
- Classify the occupancy by Group B division based on occupant mobility and the type of care or treatment provided.
- Review NBC Part 3 construction type, height and area limits, and fire separation requirements for the applicable division.
- Check egress provisions including horizontal exits, fire compartments, and defend-in-place requirements.
- Verify provincial adoption, health authority requirements, and any barrier-free provisions specific to healthcare facilities.
Common questions
What is the difference between care and treatment occupancy divisions?
The divisions reflect occupant mobility and the type of care provided. Hospitals, nursing homes, and detention facilities each fall under different divisions with different requirements.
Do care occupancies always need to be sprinklered?
Sprinklering is generally required for Group B occupancies, but the specific threshold depends on building size, division, and provincial adoption.
What egress strategy applies to care occupancies?
Most Group B occupancies use a defend-in-place strategy with horizontal exits and fire compartments rather than full building evacuation.